"So, what we're doing is an experiment, using old technology. You know, aerostats like this have been around for awhile -- but with new technology. You see the Feruno Light Radar, multi-spectral sensors, some other stuff inside, are connected to the balloon."

6. Medium command and control center where information is analyzed

7. Medium blame detaching from mooring

SOURCE: U.S. Air Force

ABOARD HIGH SPEED VESSEL SWIFT - April 26,

8. Medium aerial taken from blame as it pulls away from ship.

AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY

ABOARD HIGH SPEED VESSEL SWIFT - April 26, 2013

9. Medium of sensors below blimp as it rises off ship

SOURCE: U.S. Air Force

ABOARD HIGH SPEED VESSEL SWIFT - April 26,

10. Wide of HSV Swift from approximately 1000 ft over the Florida Straits

AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY

ABOARD HIGH SPEED VESSEL SWIFT - April 26, 2013

11. SOUNDBITE: Sinclair Harris, Rear Admiral, U.S. 4th Fleet

"Looking for the drug runners, the gun runners, the other destabilizers, other criminal activity that happens in the eastern Caribbean, eastern Pacific, western Caribbean area."

"The ability to go out and make a determination whether the ship needs to launch a boarding crew or not, is paramount to its ability for effective operations, so you can increase safety, you can increase awareness."

18. Wide of PUMA drone flying off ship.

19. Medium PUMA pilot

20. Close-up PUMA pilot

21. Medium PUMA moving slowly over ship in preparation for landing.

22. Medium operator looking at camera feed from PUMA

23. Close-up of PUMA camera feed

24. Wide tilt-down of PUMA stalling, falling to deck of ship.

SOURCE: U.S. Air Force

ABOARD HIGH SPEED VESSEL SWIFT - April 26,

25. Wide of HSV Swift making turn.

--END--

VOICEOVER SCRIPT

THE U.S. MILITARY IS HOPING THAT DESPITE AUTOMATIC SPENDING CUTS -- IT CAN STEP UP ITS FIGHT AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLING ON THE HIGH SEAS WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

SOUNDBITE: Sinclair Harris, Rear Admiral, U.S. 4th Fleet

"So, what we're doing is an experiment, using old technology. You know, aerostats like this have been around for awhile -- but with new technology. You see the Feruno Light Radar, multi-spectral sensors, some other stuff inside, are connected to the balloon."

IN ADDITION TO THE AEROSTAT -- A HELIUM FILLED BALLOON --- A SECOND TOOL IS A SMALL DRONE THAT CAN BE LAUNCHED FROM THE DECK OF A SHIP BY HAND.

OFFICIALS SAY TOGETHER, THESE TOOLS CAN HELP THE NAVY AND COAST GUARD EXPAND THEIR MONITORING ACTIVITIES OVER A MUCH WIDER AREA.....AT A LOWER COST.

"The ability to go out and make a determination whether the ship needs to launch a boarding crew or not, is paramount to its ability for effective operations, so you can increase safety, you can increase awareness."

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONTRACTORS THAT WERE OBSERVING THE TESTS DECLINED TO SAY HOW MUCH THEIR SYSTEMS COST.

BUT THEY SAID EACH ONE CAN BE OPERATED AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF FIXED WING PLANES OR HELICOPTERS THAT ARE USUALLY DISPATCHED TO CHECK OUT SUSPECTED SMUGGLERS.